From the DT article mentioned above
PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS GET LOWER SALARIES BECAUSE OF THEIR GENEROUS PENSIONS, DON'T THEY?
A myth. They are better paid, until you get to the very highest levels of management.
The Pensions Policy Institute, an independent research charity, puts average public sector salaries at £25,600 and those in the private sector at £25,300, although the PPI says salaries soared in the private sector when it came to the very top jobs.
and
IS IT TRUE THAT PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES ALL RETIRE EARLY ON FAT PENSIONS?
Undoubtedly, public sector employees claimed "breakdown in health" pensions in surprisingly large numbers in the past.
Before 2000, for example, 68pc of all retirements in the firefighters' scheme were due to ill health, as were the retirements of 40pc of police officers, 23pc of NHS workers and members of the armed forces, 39pc of local authority workers and 25pc of teachers.
So now you know as a civil servant you have higher wages and retire earlier!!
This is a very political issue (ie vote losing) involving many serving (about 5 million) and retired civil servants so I'm surprised the Tories are taking it on.
BB